Qualityland - by Marc-Uwe Kling (Hardcover)

About the Book

"First published in Germany in 2017 by Ullstein Verlag. First English translation published in Great Britain in 2020 by Orion Fiction, an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd., a Hachette UK Company"--Title page verso.

Book Synopsis

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY meets 1984: In the near-future sci-fi world of QualityLand, algorithms promise an idyllic life--but what if this perfect world wasn't built for you?

Welcome to QualityLand, the epitome of a utopian society where a universal ranking system dictates social status and career paths. Here, an automated matchmaking service handles everything from pairing ideal partners to orchestrating breakups when those matches inevitably change. And the foolproof algorithms of the biggest, most successful company in the world, TheShop, know what you want before you do and conveniently deliver to your doorstep before you even order it.

In QualityCity, Peter Jobless, a machine scrapper by trade, grapples with his role in dismantling machines that he secretly believes have worth. He unwittingly becomes the leader of a group of robotic misfits hidden in his home and workplace. When Peter receives a product from TheShop that he unequivocally does not want, he faces a monumental decision: return the product and challenge the infallible algorithms of TheShop, risking a seismic upheaval of QualityLand's carefully constructed perfection.

Marc-Uwe Kling's QualityLand, his first book translated into English, is a sharp, insightful satire reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and George Orwell. This brilliantly clever and thought-provoking novel offers a darkly humorous glimpse into a future that may be closer than we'd like to admit. Don't wait--TheShop already knows you'll enjoy this book, so dive in and discover why.

Review Quotes

"A hilarious romp through an absurd hypercapitalist dystopia...This is spot-on satire."--Publishers Weekly

"Eerily prescient and peppered with near-future projections (including the cryogenic resurrection of Jennifer Aniston), Qualityland reads like the best Black Mirror episode as written by Kurt Vonnegut. Kling delivers scythe-sharp satire, steering us through a hysterical dystopian adventure of technological determinism, all while skewering consumer culture, politics, free will, and making me rethink my relationship with my Roomba. Witty, wise, and terrifyingly funny, Qualityland is a genius gem and an absolute must read. I laughed my phone off."--p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Kira Jane Buxton, author of Hollow Kingdom

"How much you enjoy this is in direct proportion to how much trouble you think we're all in. Sleep tight."--Kirkus

"Kling's dialogue is witty and sharp, the relationship between Peter and the droids is handled with a great deal of humour and warmth, and more often than not Kling lands his jokes--Qualityland is incredibly funny--a rare feat for a science fiction novel."--p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}Locus

"Kling's sharp observations target the economy, the law, xenophobia, relationships, security, and government, sparing few and exposing with delightful brutality how close QualityLand is to reality."--Booklist

"QUALITYLAND is the best kind of satire, offering up a funhouse mirror version of our world that is so smart and so cutting, you have to laugh to keep from crying."--Rob Hart, author of The Warehouse

"QUALITYLAND is very funny and very scary -- my kind of book."--Mike Judge, creator of HBO's Silicon Valley, writer/director of Office Space

"The plot unfolds in a way that surprises, which is quite refreshing when dealing with storylines which create a cautionary tale about corporate overreach."--p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}The Nerd Daily

"The times we live in demand a satire as sharp and unrelenting as QUALITYLAND. The funniest parts will make you cringe. But rather than merely beat the reader over the head with doom and gloom, this novel goes further, showing the value of endurance and even hope in an age of emptiness."--p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}Robert Repino, author of D'Arc and Mort(e)

About the Author

Marc-Uwe Kling is a German author and songwriter. Qualityland spent months on the German bestseller lists, has sold more than half a million copies to date internationally, and is currently in production as an HBO series. Kling lives in Berlin.